Are you thinking it’s high time for an adventure? This next spring, after winter’s deep snows and deeper thoughts, why not join me in Jamaica? Jamaica: seabreezes, sun, misty forest, calypso––and those spectacular hummingbirds, the streamertails! Red-billed Streamertails commonly visit Jamaican gardens. (Photos by Peg … Continue readingThe Island of Streamertails
Recently Armando (“Mando”) called a meeting in Rustler Park of 21 professionals from the US Forest Service, Arizona Game & Fish, and other agencies to assess the condition of Rustler after the Horseshoe Two Fire and to decide on the best way of encouraging its … Continue readingRustler Park after the Burn
Our friend John Roser, in his nightly patrols to see what’s happening in his yard, discovered that giant Five-spotted Hawkmoths are visiting his massive flowering Datura. Since that discovery, several folks have held nightly vigils in John’s yard, starting at dusk, to witness the show. … Continue readingDatura-Diving
Okay, this post departs from all my normal topics (unless we pull in Emily Dickinson’s famous poem, “Hope is the thing with feathers…”). I’ve been thinking about hope, considering it, tasting it, turning it over. For a long time I haven’t let myself hope for … Continue readingHope
The greater Portal-Rodeo community will no doubt be delighted to learn that our famous tame Gambel’s Quail, Sir Poopsalot, who lived the good life in Portal before hurling himself into someone’s window, has been given to Gene Cardiff, a museum ornithologist. Gene is taking Sir … Continue readingThe Fate of Sir Poopsalot
Our immersion in Huachuca Canyon, emerald-green and moist in this monsoon season, was a balm. One of the morning field trips at the Western Field Ornithologists’ annual meeting explored this beautiful canyon, which is less often visited than neighboring Garden and Sawmill Canyons. Tony Battiste … Continue readingHuachuca Canyon with WFO
We’ve had a full week! Many friends who know the Sky Islands choose the late monsoon season to visit, when hummingbirds are streaming south, nectar-feeding bats cluster around the feeders, and masses of clouds keep the temperatures just about perfect. (Of course the gnats find … Continue readingPortal, Late Summer
If a group of butterflies comprises 2400 species, we can expect some identification challenges! In the Spanish Pyrenees, I found plenty. The upper Hecho Valley is rife with puzzling satyrs. Satyrs are a subfamily of nymphalids, or brush-footed butterflies. These are the pearly-eyes, the wood nymphs, … Continue readingThose Challenging Satyrs
Hiking took Wendi, Leona, Alan and me into various nooks of the upper Hecho Valley, a splendid region of the Pyrenees, and one replete with butterflies and flowers. These public trails wind through sectors of the Parque Natural Valles Occidentales, or Western Valleys Natural Park. … Continue readingPyranees Butterfly Sampler
A quick flash to Portal, Arizona, before we continue with Spain: This morning’s walk up the South Fork road with long-time friends, Chet and Irma, affirmed that new life is thriving there. Just below the South Fork bridge, a Wild Plum is fruiting. (Some people call … Continue readingNew Life